Children's home run by Northamptonshire County Council in West Northamptonshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has declined in effectiveness because, since the last inspection, there have been significant periods of time when the home manager has not been available to manage the home. There has also been a period of time when a high number of staff have not been in work due to sickness. This disruption to the continuity of care has impacted on children and young people’s relationships, safety and welfare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Senior managers have responded to these problems and have mitigated some of the potential impact. Experienced managers and staff have provided cover. In many cases, cover has been provided by staff who know the children and young people, as they have previously worked in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the young people reported that they were unhappy about cover arrangements and became uncompliant with house rules. It was assessed that they were negatively influencing the behaviour of other residents, which resulted in an increase in risk-taking behaviours of younger and more vulnerable children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people were regularly going missing from the home. This was new behaviour, and was very concerning. Staff have followed procedures, searched known areas and contacted family and friends. Incidents have been reported appropriately. Staff have worked closely with police and case-responsible social workers to ensure that young people are returned to the home safely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are concerns that a culture had developed within the home that did not model healthy relationships and safe boundaries. Some young people were very influential within the group. There were also incidents of bullying behaviour and challenging behaviours resulting in some damage within the home. The damage to the home has been addressed and current residents are enjoying a safe and comfortable environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of young people have moved on from the home as a direct result of the impact of changes to the care arrangements. Senior managers have convened multi-agency planning meetings and identified appropriate placements for the young people, enabling continuity in education and training arrangements in some cases. One young person has moved out of the county for a time-limited period as a result of persistently going missing episodes that were placing him at significant risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Covering managers have ensured that children’s social workers, independent reviewing officers and children’s rights advocates have visited the home to speak with children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following proactive support and monitoring by the current managers, the majority of staff have been able to return to work. Children and young people feel settled again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection identified that the timeliness of recording needs to be improved. A number of risk assessments had not been updated following new behaviours by some of the children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Where young people are vulnerable to exploitation or abuse, staff are working with them so that they better understand risk. Multi-agency meetings take place to ensure that plans are in place to support young people to keep safe. However, in one instance, there was a concern that the initial sharing of information across agencies was limited and unhelpful. The service manager will be reviewing this and will undertake a ‘lessons learned’ exercise to ensure that this does not happen again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 There has been a low incidence of physical interventions, and staff have been able to de-escalate situations at challenging times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Staff have ensured that good routines have been maintained. All of the children and young people eat together. They report that they enjoy meal times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The young people who are sharing the flat within the home are making good progress with independence skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Children and young people have continued to take part in a range of activities. They have maintained attendance at education, training and work placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 There are regular young people’s meetings that children and young people contribute to. They have opportunities to speak to staff and managers individually.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of recruitment practises is being undertaken in response to safeguarding concerns identified prior to this inspection. Requirements are made to ensure that the findings of this review are acted on, and that stable staffing arrangements are consolidated within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The covering managers are experienced and have a good track record. They have delivered training to raise awareness about a particular child’s needs. They have ensured that all staff are being supervised. They have recruited staff to two vacant posts and have appointed additional peripatetic staff. They are modelling professional relationships, good practice and open and transparent communication.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Currently the atmosphere in the home is calm and positive. Staff are maintaining routines and repairing relationships. Staff are focused on meeting the children and young people’s needs and keeping them safe. The children and young people are positive about how things are now in the home, but have said there were times when they were unsettled by a lot of change.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority children’s home and provides residential placements for up to eight children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/09/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Outstanding 17/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification. (Regulation 32 (4)) 11/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1)) 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

13 (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that -

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Requirement Due date

(2) ensures that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care for each child. 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Staff should understand and help children to understand what makes a healthy, nurturing relationship. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.10)

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Recommendations

 Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home, so that they would understand what they need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of the child. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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